1. Entrepreneurship and innovation cluster ICT VENTURE GATE project 23 rd March 2012, Brussels

2. CAPACITY BUILDING APPROACH 1.Policy- Various Stakeholders 2.Infrastructure - ICT & Finance 3.Human Resources Development- Skills set, Internships 4.Community Involvement- Local Stakeholders

3. 1.- Policy- conducting discussions with: European Parliament DG Information and Society DG Regio DG Enterprise and Industry DG Research and Innovation DG Education and Culture

4. Outcomes: EU Parliament – Seminar & workshops in EU Parliament DG Information&Society- Taskforces and Governance DG Regio- How R&I&E fits in S3 (Smart Specialisation Strategy) DG Enterprise&Industry- Working with EEN DG Research&Innovation- Position paper on coaching/ mentoring (Horizon 2020) DG Education&Culture- Internship Initiative on Innovation. University - Business Alliance

5. ICT- web platforms ICT- web platforms 2.- Infrastructures ICT 1- ICT Finance Marketplace 2- ICT Venture Gate 1- ICT Finance Marketplace 2- ICT Venture Gate To explore further development as a resource for entrepreneurs

6. 2.-InfrastructuresFinance 8 Modules I&E Mentoring with investors  Marketing plan  Business plan  Pitching 8 Modules I&E Mentoring with investors  Marketing plan  Business plan  Pitching  PARAGON- In discussion with EIF on Malta R&I fund  PARAGON- In discussion with EBAN to form MBAN  PARAGON- In discussion with other finance institutions To raise awareness of investment potential  PARAGON- In discussion with EIF on Malta R&I fund  PARAGON- In discussion with EBAN to form MBAN  PARAGON- In discussion with other finance institutions To raise awareness of investment potential

7. 3.- Human Resource Development Internships  Vocational/ Tertiary  Planning and delivering training modules for organisations and transversal sectors on I&E  Development of internships programmes on I&E

8. ICT Venture Gate: Case study E-training on investment readiness Module 1: Raising Capital in Europe. Module 2: Understanding Investment Readiness. Module 3: How to Prepare a Business Case Module 4: Presentation Skills. Module 5: Cases, Success Stories, Further Assistance.

9. The e-learning Platform

10. The Panellists at the Rome Brokerage Event Brokerage Event panel at the CoR in Brussels Brokerage events

11. 4.- Community Involvement  Online via social networks  Through regional development with stakeholders organisations such as chambers of commerce, employers associations, local municipalities

12. 5.- Conclusions Challenges/ Outcomes Should be to reach a critical mass of I&E across the whole spectrum of businesses, Universities, etc Establish clear guidelines on I&E as enablers for successful and sustainable SMEs

13. Project Coordinator ICT VENTUREGATE Dr. Anthony Theuma anton@paragoneurope.eu www.ictventuregate.eu www.ict-finance-marketplace.com Thank you for your attention!